The most expensive fight in boxing history was held in Las Vegas

The sensation that was expected by millions of boxing fans around the world did not happen. Undefeated American Floyd Mayweather, who sports analysts call the “best defensive style boxer” in the history of sports, didn’t misfire either this time, scoring his 48 victory in professional boxing and beating points from the unanimous decision of the judges.

The de facto homemade 16 thousandth arena of the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, where Mayweather has been living in recent years, once again brought him victory.

The fight took place in the framework of the welterweight (66,7 kg). Three world champion titles were at stake - WBA (Super) and WBC, owned by Meuzer, and WBO title owned by Pacquiao

"Fight of the Century"

From the first rounds, Pacquiao beat a lot, but he missed a lot. Mayweather's defense looked flawless. Moments Filipino lowered his head down and went to the opponent, like a bull on a red rag, dealing powerful blows from which the American confidently dodged.

Before the duel, some commentators said that Mayweather, trying to prove to the boxing public that he is one of the greatest fighters of all time, can lose only in one case: if he changes his tactics of the “counterpatcher” and goes to Pacquiao with an open visor.

Apparently, the American still reads the local sports press, because he did not do just that. He remained true to his defensive philosophy and tactics of sharp oncoming hooks.

In the fourth round, Pacquiao finally managed to hit his trademark left well, and Mayweather was forced to cuddle up to the ropes.

However, it was almost the only stellar moment of Manny in the whole fight. In the second half of the match, Floyd counterattacked perfectly, which made the judges make a unanimous decision about his victory.

Two legends - two stories

Pacquiao won the championship titles in eight different weight categories, unaware of 19 defeats. Mayweather in five years.

The statistics of previous performances of two legends of boxing of the last decade looked as follows: Pacquiao - 57 wins (38 - ahead of schedule) with 5 (3 - knockout) defeats and 2 draws; Mayweather won all his 47 professional fights.

According to US media reports, 56% of Twitter users spent a few hours before the fight, Twitter users predicted Pacquiao's victory; 44 percentages were convinced that Mayweather would remain undefeated.

Mayweather- "Money"

Mayweather was born in the family of a boxer in the town of Grand Rapids in Michigan, USA. His father, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., and two uncles, Jeff Mayweather and Roger Mayweather, were professional boxers. Floyd’s relationship with his father, who trafficked drugs and served a term in prison, was complex. But his uncle Roger has always been a real example for him and later became Floyd's coach. With him, Mayweather Jr. won two world championships, and then after the annoying and, as many believe, Mayweather's unfair defeat from Bulgarian Seraphim Todorov in the semifinals of the Atlanta Olympics (1996), Floyd suggested Roger leave with him in professional boxing.

“When people see what I have now, they have no idea where I come from and how I got it,” says the American boxer.

Floyd Mayweather, who nicknamed himself “money”, today is the highest-paid athlete on the planet.

“Yes, I actually have three Bugatti and, I really earn more than a hundred million dollars for 36 minutes,” an American boxer said in an interview with Yahoo Sports shortly before the fight with Pacquiao.

Undefeated Mayweather for the last battle should earn 180 from 300 millions of dollars, which will bring this "fight of the century."

Fighters will share the fee in 60 ratios on 40 in favor of Mayweather.

Pacquiao Pacman

Growing up in poverty on the island of Mindanao, Pacquiao, in 14 years, moved to the capital of the Philippines, Manila, and almost immediately began to earn his living by boxing. According to him, for the victory then he was paid 2 dollars, for defeat - one.

However, times are changing. For today's fight with Mayweather patron, politician and simply “a Renaissance man,” as he is called for many talents, he earned 120 million dollars.

Pacquiao suffered its last defeat in December 2012 of the year by Juan Manuel Marquez. The latter caught the Filipino on protivohod and sent a knockout with a powerful blow. Pacquiao hit after falling face down on the floor of the ring and for a long time could not get up.

However, since then, Packman has won three confident victories and again won the WBO welterweight champion's belt (66.6 kg) weight.

The WBC organization has made a special belt for the winner of this fight. It is decorated with hundreds of emeralds and gold and is estimated at 1 million dollars.

The cost of Pay per view (English - pay per view) of this fight varied in the amount of 90 dollars for the broadcast in the usual quality and 100 dollars for HD-quality

According to US media reports, after tickets went online for sale on Ticketmaster.com, the cheapest tickets could be purchased for 1 500 dollars; the most expensive - for 7 500 dollars.

Two hours before the fight, the American sports channel ESPN reported that they could confirm the purchase of three tickets in the first row of the MGM Grand Garden arena for 100 thousand dollars.

Before the “fight of the century,” Ukrainian Vasily Lomachenko entered the ring. In his fifth fight in the professional ring, he defeated Puerto Rican Gamalier Rodriguez and defended the WBO featherweight world title (up to 57,15 kg) for the second time.

Throughout the battle, the Ukrainian had a significant advantage in speed, quantity, and accuracy of strikes. Rodriguez in the course of the fight repeatedly struck below the belt, for which the referee took off his two points.

In the seventh round, the Ukrainian champion sent the applicant in a knockdown with a blow to the body. At the beginning of the ninth round, after a series of accented shots of Lomachenko in the head, Rodriguez knelt down and could not rise until the referee finished counting down.

A week ago, world champion IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Ukrainian Vladimir Klitschko defended their titles in a competitive bout with American Bryant Jennings, beating him by unanimous decision.